One of my favorite holidays, St. Patrick’s Day, is right around the corner, and I thought I’d let you in on a little family secret: Grandma Caley’s Famous Irish Soda Bread. No St. Patrick’s Day is complete without several loaves of this Irish treasure as part of your spread. The Caley recipe, of unknown provenance somewhere between the Celtic shores of Muir Èireann and the Isle of Man, has been in my family for generations; simple and customizable, it’s sure to delight your friends and family.

In addition to the traditional Irish Soda Bread, I’ll try out two interesting variations in hopes of finding a more “modernized” version of the recipe. With these recipes, the ingredients (which can all be found at FreshDirect), and a little bit of luck, you’ll find the ISB that’s perfect for you, even if your baking skills are a little, shall we say, green…